Charlotte

This is one of the most special sessions I've ever done and it was an absolute privilege.

Charlotte has Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome type 3 which is a connective tissue disorder which causes widespread pain, dislocations and subluxations of all of her joints. In her case, her bowel also doesn't work properly so in March 2022 she had surgery to have an ileostomy bag fitted (Sally the Stoma!).

Charlotte also has a feeding tube due to severe Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG). She suffered morning sickness so badly that her weight dropped to the extent that she needed a feeding tube. HG usually stops early in the second trimester but in her case she's had it since 6 weeks with no relent. Charlotte has had this to deal with during her pregnancy on top of her other health issues.

Charlotte suffered 13 prior miscarriages due to a combination of the EDS and a gene mutation causing issues with blood clotting; this photoshoot was a huge deal for her to finally celebrate her pregnancy and in many ways accept her body for how it is now (with the ileostomy and all the surgery scars). At the beginning of the pregnancy and even more recently, she felt like she was never able to get excited about it out of fear of another loss.

I am in awe of Charlotte's strength, bravery and her attitude around normalising stomas and feeding tubes and although we took some shots from different angles so that you couldn't see them so prominently, she was clear that she wanted to also include them as part of her journey and accepting her body.

Charlotte admitted that she struggled physically through her shoot but I told her I would never have noticed. She was an absolute trooper and I've never seen such absolute adoration from a husband to their wife than I saw from Nathan. You guys make the most amazing team and I am so humbled that you chose me to do this with you.

Charlotte, you are absolutely beautiful 💕💕